Although these depositories usually contain several used fuel assemblies and therefore more
total radioactivity than a reactor does, most of the more dangerous radioactive isotopes in the old fuel have already decayed away.
Overall, the tanks hold every element in the periodic table, including half a ton of plutonium, various uranium isotopes and at least 44 other radionuclides — containing a
total of about 176 million curies of
radioactivity.
• Safe: free of disease - causing microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, spores); heavy metals; chemicals from industry and agriculture; pharmaceuticals; disinfectants and related by - products;
radioactivity; and synthetic fluoride; • Fresh: neither salty nor stagnant; • Clean: physically, biologically and chemically; • Natural: coming from a pristine mountain stream, glacial river or fresh spring; • Hydrating: water with low surface tension and thus better hydrating; • Mineral balanced: contains a wide variety of minerals including trace minerals, excellent ionic activity (
Total Dissolved Solids ~ 300 ppm), including cations such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium; and anions such as nitrate, chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate and carbonate.